Afghanistan – Bring the Boys Back Home

Another three soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan. Cameron says that Britain is paying a “very high price” in Afghanistan. Yet few here in the UK believe that it is a price worth paying.

The soldiers killed by a roadside bomb were Cpl William Savage and Fusilier Samuel Flint from the Royal Highland Fusiliers, the 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment Of Scotland and  Pte Robert Hetherington, of the 51st Highland, 7th Battalion, a Territorial Army member.

Six other soldiers were injured in the bomb blast in Helmand on Tuesday. The blast occurred when the soldiers were travelling on a routine patrol in the Nahr-e Saraj district.

Cameron tries to sell us the war. He sends commiseration to the grieving families saying: “today our thoughts should be with the families and friends of those that have suffered.” Perhaps he even means it. Yet he put them in harm’s way by keeping them as an occupying force in Afghanistan.

Cameron justifies the  military occupation of Afghanistan (and all the death and despair that entails) by claiming it is “vital that country doesn’t again become a haven for terrorists, terrorists that can threaten us here in the UK.”

This is nonsense. There is no evidence that any Afghan intends to launch any attack on Britain. The war in Afghanistan — alongside other wars Britain has participated in over the past decade —  has made this country more insecure, not less, as was shown by the huge military operation which had to be mounted to protect the London Olympic Games in Summer 2012. Our continued involvement in foreign wars makes Britain and the British people more of a target for extremists.

Britain’s home-grown terrorists have received training or drawn inspiration from jihadi forces in Pakistan, while the September 11 2001 World Trade Centre bombers were Saudis, who were legally in the US.

There is no benefit for the people of Britain or Afghanistan in keeping our troops there a moment longer. The Taleban remain undefeated and there is no political settlement. The “exit strategy” itself is extremely dangerous as the Afghan army and police who are meant to cover our backs have a habit of shooting at them instead!. Every moment that our troops remain there puts them at more risk. Bring our boys back home now. British troops should only fight to defend our country and its interests.